Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

The Watchful Eye

Chapter Four: The Watchful Eye

Westview had a strange stillness to it, as though time itself had paused just slightly, leaving the edges of the world blurred. Nessa walked through the quiet streets, her boots clicking softly on the pavement. The town was charming, with its neat rows of houses quaint storefronts, and well-tended gardens, but there was an unnatural air about it. The people she passed seemed warm enough yet distant, as if their smiles were rehearsed and their lives perfectly curated.

Nessa's eyes scanned the shop windows, looking for anything a name, a symbol, anything that might lead her to the woman with the locket. She wandered aimlessly, stopping occasionally to study a poster or an old sign, but nothing stood out. Her frustration grew, the locket around her neck feeling heavier with every step.

She turned a corner and spotted a small coffee shop tucked between two brick buildings. Its windows were fogged, but she could see a few people inside, sipping drinks and chatting quietly. A bell jingled as she stepped in, the warm smell of roasted beans wrapping around her like a comforting hug. She ordered a drink and sat by the window, her gaze drifting back out to the street.

What am I even looking for? she wondered, tracing her finger along the edge of her cup. The warmth of the coffee did little to soothe the unease bubbling inside her.

From the shadows of a nearby alley, Rio watched her closely. Her arms were crossed, her face set in an unreadable expression as she observed the girl through the café window. Something about her felt wrong not in a dangerous way, but in a way Rio couldn't explain. It was like the energy surrounding Nessa didn't belong, a chaotic blend of forces that shouldn't coexist.

"She's not just some lost kid," Rio muttered to herself. Her voice was low, as if speaking the thought out loud might make it more real. She closed her eyes for a moment, reaching out with her senses again. The power she felt was unlike anything she'd encountered before raw, untamed, and unsettlingly familiar.

Rio leaned back against the wall, running a hand through her hair. "What are you?" she murmured, her mind racing. The locket around the girl's neck had caught her attention earlier, its design pulling at memories she couldn't quite place. There was something significant about it, but she wasn't ready to make any assumptions. Not yet.

She watched as Nessa sipped her coffee, her posture tense and her eyes darting around the room. The girl was clearly searching for something...or someone. Rio's instincts told her to stay close, to figure out why this stranger had come to Westview and what connection she might have to the strange energy Rio had felt when she arrived.

But for now, Rio stayed in the background, unnoticed. There were too many questions and not enough answers. All she could do was wait and watch, keeping her distance until the truth began to reveal itself.

Agatha's Perspective:

Agatha Harkness felt it the moment she crossed into Westview a pull she couldn't ignore. It was faint at first, like a whisper brushing against her consciousness, but the closer she got to the town the louder it became. It wasn't eerie or foreboding like the forces she was used to dealing with. No this was something different. Something lighter. Chaotic, yes but...warm, almost inviting.

She strolled through the streets, her sharp eyes taking in the familiar town. The place hadn't changed much since her last visit, and yet it felt alive in a way that it hadn't before. Agatha's fingers tingled with the residue of magic in the air raw, untamed, and just out of reach. It called to her, but she couldn't place its source.

"Interesting," she murmured to herself, her lips curling into a smirk. She adjusted her coat and continued down the cobblestone streets, her presence commanding yet unnoticed by the townsfolk. She didn't know what had brought her here but she wasn't one to ignore a summons, intentional or not.

Unbeknownst to her, Rio stood in the shadows nearby, her gaze locked on Agatha's figure as she moved through the town. The sight of her hit Rio like a lightning bolt, and the pieces began to fall into place. That girl, that locket, this energy it was all connected to Agatha. Somehow, in ways Rio couldn't yet comprehend, the woman she once loved was tied to this strange presence in Westview.

As if sensing the weight of Rio's eyes on her, Agatha paused. She glanced over her shoulder her gaze sharp and calculating, her expression unreadable as her eyes scanned the alleyway. For a moment, they locked eyes and Rio felt her breath catch.

Agatha tilted her head a faint smile playing on her lips. She saw Rio but didn't approach, instead turning back and continuing on her way, leaving behind only the faintest trace of lavender scented magic. Rio stayed rooted to the spot, her mind racing as she watched Agatha disappear into the crowd. Whatever was happening in Westview, she knew now that it was bigger than she'd thought and Agatha was at the center of it.